'Spend the first two days looking at the view'

'The nicest lounge and terrace in Italy'

...ultra-modern kitchen with ice on tap

Private hot tub has seats for 5 - plus kids!

Prices Currency Conversion

Rental periods
15 - 21 March 2008	£750	Easter
22 March - 25 April 2008	£495	early spring in Italy
26 April - 27 June 2008	£750	springtime in Lombardy
28 June - 5 September 2008	£1075	summer in the Italian Lakes
6 September - 3 October 2008	£750	autumn in the Lakes
4 October - 12 December 2008	£395	nice & quiet in low-season
13 December 2008 - 9 January 2009	£750	Christmas & New Year Markets
10 January - 3 April 2009	£495	skiing season
4 - 24 April 2009	£950	Easter in Italy
25 April - 12 June 2009	£850	springtime in Lombardy
13 June - 4 September 2009	£1195	summer in the Italian Lakes
5 September - 30 October 2009	£950	autumn in the Lakes
31 October - 11 December 2009	£395	nice in low season

Notes on prices
Special discounted rental for the week beginning Aug 09, 08: less £100 (125euro).
Weekly rentals in GB Pounds, but we accept Euros and US Dollars. Security deposit of Euro300 is payable in cash on arrival, returnable on satisfactory completion. Final cleaning charge of Euro150 will be deducted from the deposit.
Otherwise, our rentals are all-inclusive - private use of the hot tub April-Sept, internet connection, electricity, gas, etc. We offer 20% discount for off-season visits over 2 weeks.

Changeover day
Our preferred changeover day is Saturday with arrival and departure times flexible, but please arrive before 8.00pm. Talk to the owners about changeover days other than Saturdays.

Accommodation

Notes on accommodation
If you need to, you can work in comfort - there is wireless broadband for internet access throughout the apartment and a computer work desk in the large main bedroom. All rooms have shutters that keep temperatures cool in the summer without the need for noisy air conditioning. You open and close shutters to control the temperature - the system works well and the lockable shutters also give good security. This apartment is most suitable for children. There is a locked gate at the top of the garden stairs and continuous garden fencing. The pool has a clip-down insulated cover to keep it warm - and safe for toddlers. Once at apartment level there are no steps or stairs hence this is suitable for less able visitors.

Amenities/Facilities provided

Accessibility
There are steps down from the car park to the terrace and front door to the apartment. Hence, we regret that the apartment is not suitable for wheelchair access. However, at terrace and apartment level, there are no steps - you can move freely around with total mobility.

Outside
A private sunlit terrace is found on three sides of the apartment, fitted with beautiful Italian marble tiles and wooden decking and the private spa pool (hot tub April-Sept) and jacuzzi. The hot tub is fully automatic, coming on at 8.00am and off at 8.00pm - keep it covered (and steaming) for instant use. Two garden tables and many chairs can be moved to suit the time of day and your wish to be in or out of the sun. A large parasol can be moved to shade you in the pool or at the table. Matching sun beds and side tables complete the furnishing of the terrace. A second table is placed in a perfect spot to enjoy your evening dinner as the sun goes down. A small alpine garden is at the rear of the apartment.
There is a neat outdoor drying rack - after using the washing machine, your clothes will be dry in no time. The large car park has a private space next to the steps down to the terrace and front door to the apartment. Other visitor car spaces are also available.

Coast/Beach
There are beaches on Lake Maggiore only 5mins away by car. Walking takes a little longer, but the return is super exercise rewarded with great views. It's lovely to swim and fish in the Lake in the summer - and some adults and children enjoy swimming all through the year. Pebbly beaches require you to bring jelly shoes. The Lake teems with fish - there are fishing nets kept at the apartment.

Golf
Six prestigious courses within 40 km.

Skiing
In winter, skiers can enjoy the small ski-lift at Alpe Forcora only 30 mins away, or travel to the well-known Swiss ski resorts of Andermatt, San Bernardino and Airolo.
The Italian Alps offer you the well-known Monte Rosa ski resort.
An hour by car, ferry and cableway will take you to the ski resort at the summit of Mottarone. This is directly above our favorite resort of Stresa on the west side of Lake Maggiore.
You'll see the navigation light shining from the summit of Mattatone from the terrace of the apartment.

Special interest holidays
Great sailing and wind surfing opportunities are offered from many beaches on Lake Maggiore. Beachcombing, line and net fishing for lake carp and trout is available only 5 minutes by car down on the lakeside. In the summer season, you can rent boats and boards by the lakeside. Maggiore is a deep lake and offers good diving conditions in clear Alpine water. Garden lovers will appreciate the fabulous gardens alongside Lake Maggiore. Those at Villa Taranto were designed in the 1930s by Scotsman Captain Neil McEacharn, who bequeathed his botanical gardens to the Italian people. They are open to the public - and the ferries stop there. Isola Bella is more than a lovely historic palace - its gardens are spectacular, set off by a pair of white peacocks. Colourful gardens please the eye along the lakeside promenades of Stresa. The grand 19th century hotels welcome you to their fine restaurants, wine bars and public areas - and to their 120-year old gardens.

Travel
Milan Malpensa Airport is the nearest airport, about 75 mins away. EasyJet & Flybe are the low-cost airlines and are expanding their routes to UK airports, plus BA & Alitalia. Milan Bergamo Airport (Ryanair) is 3hrs away - Bergamo is a beautiful old city and well worth an overnight visit. A bus service passes the apartment entrance. An inexpensive train service from Luino takes you to Milan in 60 -120 mins hour depending on time of day (commuter trains are quicker and non-stop).

Distances
5 mins by car to Luino, 10 mins to the Laveno car ferry across the lake. Italy enjoys low-cost, fast trains, buses & ferries. Milan is famous for shopping. A short train ride from its centre brings you to the monastery of Santa Maria delle Grazie and Leonardo da Vinci's breath-taking 'Last Supper'. Book your tickets in advance (see below for website address) to spend 15 mins quietly with this amazing painting. Treat yourself to to a visit to the people's opera house, La Scala Milan.

Further details
Luino is a lovely and busy lakeside town with many bakeries, shops, supermarkets and good restaurants. The "Camin" is highly recommended, especially for romantic dinners or celebrations. "La Piazza" is a great little restaurant in Germingnaga where the chef is pleased to speak English to guide you through his menu. The restaurant in our local village of Brezzo di Bedero is easily walkable from the apartment and offers a big friendly welcome. Luino has a busy street market on Wednesdays. It 's another highlight of your stay, attracting city people from Milan, Lugano and Munich - and visitors from all over Italy, Germany and Switzerland. There's a terminal for the ferries (regular services, plus high-speed catamarans and hydrofoils) with frequent connections to the towns and villages around Lake Maggiore - these will be another highlight of your holiday. The city of Lugano on another beautiful lake is just down the road, less than 30 minutes away. That's another rich experience, but take your passport - it's in Switzerland! Lake Como features the beautiful town of Bellagio and George Clooney's gorgeous villa (which is it?). We are only 20 mins by car from the border with Switzerland and a little further to Lugano. Further day trips may be made to Lake Garda and the other Italian Lakes. We recommend the 'AA Guide to The Italian Lakes' and its Top 10 Places - all of which are easily reached from the apartment. The apartment will enable you to cover, in a short time, nine of the Italian entries in the superb '1,000 Places To See Before You Die' by Patricia Shultz. Please contact the owners for a website address should you require further details.

Booking notes
Please agree dates with the owners before sending a booking deposit. The deposit is normally between £200 and £300 with the final payment due 8 weeks before your arrival. There is one additional charge, but only if you have baby - for the hire of a cot with linen, 20 Euro - pay Laura.

Guest comments
'An untouched piece of paradise - and to wake up to that view in the morning - I am not pleased to be back home! Manager Laura was great, she is such a lovely person' Jacqueline Leiper.
'It's a ripper of a place, even the spa worked!' Peter Kingwill.
'You spend the first 2 days looking at the view... apartment is amazing. Other lakeside towns...Cannobio and Stresa our favourites' Vince & Joan
"..ferry terminal in Luino allowed us many relaxing, car-free journeys to lovely lakeside towns." Dorothy and Bob
"The children are very much at home. They say it reminds them of our beach house in Australia - and they're right! Great to have ice on tap again... Got the internet working thanks to Laura' Rob Pilch
'Just arrived back after a fantastic holiday. Your apartment is to die for!' Dean Taylor
"Apartment.. worked well for our group of 7" the Shapiros
"..the best apartment ever" Guy & Fiona
"Loved the Sunday market at Cannobio..plus warm and friendly local people" Celia & Brian

This advertiser joined Owners Direct in November 2006,
and has advertised this property with us since November 2006.

Property Ref IT935
When contacting the owner please mention that you saw this property on Owners Direct Website.